US4056067A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Joint for modular furniture
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-07
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Granted: 1977-11-01
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Expires: 1996-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A furniture joint for assembling shelves in spaced parallel relation on supporting spindles to form a standing tier of shelves of appropriate height without the aid of fastening elements and/or tools.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas C. Steger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:26
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B47/00; A47B47/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A multishelf structure comprising shelves containing at their opposite ends spaced vertically disposed holes, and means for supporting the shelves in spaced parallel relation, one above another, said means comprising spaced parallel columns at the opposite ends of the shelves, said columns extending continuously from the underside of one shelf upwardly through the holes in the one shelf to the underside of the shelf above, but not into the holes therein, and locking means comprising a block at each end of each shelf having contact with the lower side of the shelf, said blocks containing at their upper and lower sides spaced holes offset outwardly with respect to the holes in the shelves, the holes in the top side receiving the portions of the columns extending downwardly through a given shelf and the holes in the lower side receiving the portions of the columns extending upwardly from said shelf into the holes at the lower side of the blocks at the underside of the shelf above such that the shelf at the upper side of a block bends the columns inwardly and the block at the underside of the shelf above bends the columns outwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A multishelf structure comprising shelves containing at their opposite ends spaced vertically disposed holes, and means for supporting the shelves in spaced parallel relation, one above another, said means comprising spaced parallel columns at the opposite ends of the shelves, said columns extending continuously from the underside of one shelf upwardly through the holes in the one shelf to the underside of the shelf above, but not into the holes therein, and locking means comprising a block at each end of each shelf having contact with the lower side of the shelf, said blocks containing at their upper and lower sides spaced holes offset outwardly with respect to the holes in the shelves, the holes in the top side receiving the portions of the columns extending downwardly through a given shelf and the holes in the lower side receiving the portions of the columns extending upwardly from said shelf into the holes at the lower side of the blocks at the underside of the shelf above such that the shelf at the upper side of a block bends the columns inwardly and the block at the underside of the shelf above bends the columns outwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
A shelf module for building a multishelf structure of spaced, parallel shelves comprising a shelfboard containing at its opposite ends spaced, vertically disposed holes, spaced parallel columns inserted into the holes with portions extending from the underside of the shelfboard and portions extending from the upper side of the shelfboard, and locking means comprising blocks at the ends of the shelfboard at the lower side and having engagement with the lower side, said blocks containing spaced holes at their upper and lower sides, situated at a greater distance apart than the holes in the shelfboard, said holes at the upper side receiving the portions of the columns at the lower side of said shelf and bending the columns inwardly relative to the blocks, said module being adapted to be combined with like modules by inserting the portions of the columns extending upwardly from the shelf into the holes at the lower side of the blocks of a module above.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
A shelf module for building a multishelf structure of spaced, parallel shelves comprising a shelfboard containing at its opposite ends spaced, vertically disposed holes, spaced parallel columns inserted into the holes with portions extending from the underside of the shelfboard and portions extending from the upper side of the shelfboard, and locking means comprising blocks at the ends of the shelfboard at the lower side and having engagement with the lower side, said blocks containing spaced holes at their upper and lower sides, situated at a greater distance apart than the holes in the shelfboard, said holes at the upper side receiving the portions of the columns at the lower side of said shelf and bending the columns inwardly relative to the blocks, said module being adapted to be combined with like modules by inserting the portions of the columns extending upwardly from the shelf into the holes at the lower side of the blocks of a module above.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A shelf module according to claim 2 characterized in that the module can be easily assembled and disassembled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-31 | 1981-05-02 | 1981-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-31 | 1985-05-02 | 1985-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-31 | 1989-05-02 | 1989-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |